Check-row planter and fertilizer-distributer.



No. 661,566. Patented Nov. l3, I900.

R. H. TRUITT. CHECK ROW PLANTE-R AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

(Application filed Mar. 8, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-8heet I.

T: NORRXS PETERS cc. PNOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 661,566. Patented Nov. I3, 1900.

. R. H. TRUITT.

CHECK ROW PLANTER AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

{Application filed Mar. 8, 1900.} (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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N0. 661,566. 6 Patented Nov; l3, I900.

' n. H. TRUITT.

CHECK BOW PLANTER AND FERTILIZER DISTBIBUTER.

6 (Application filed Mar. 8, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

ROBERT HENRY 'IRUITT, OF BENTON, KENTUCKY.

CHECK-ROW PLAN'IF'ER AND FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTEF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,566, dated November13, 1960.

Application filed March a, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HENRY TRUITT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Benton, in the county of Marshall and State of Kentucky,have invented a new and useful Check-Row Corn-Planter andFertilizer-Distributer, of which the following is a specifi- A furtherobject of my invention is to pro vide an improved cut-off shoe or platefor the' seed-slide. 7 Q

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form offertilizer-slide which is adapted to be adjusted so as to regulate thequantity of fertilizer distributed to each hill of corn.

A further object of my invention is to provide an im provod novel formof shoe or furrow-opener which is adapted to be set to any requiredadjustment.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofmarker.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved pulverizing-diskdevices for operation in connection with the corn-planter.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in thepeculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter set forth,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of acombined check-row corn-planter and fertilizerdistributer embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional view in detail, on a somewhat-larger scale, of theseed-hopper, seed-slide, cutoff plate or shoe, and a portion of thetubular telescoping standard of the furrow-opening shoe. Fig. 5 is adetail transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a detail perspective view of the seed-slide. Fig. 7 is a detailcentral longitudinal sectional view of a portionof the fertilizer-hopperand the fertilizer- Serial No. 7,862. kNo model.)

slide therein. Fig. 8 is a detail top plan view of the same, partly inhorizontal section, on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detailperspective view of the fertilizer-dropping slide. Fig. .10 is adiagrammatic top plan view of the mechanism for actuating the seed andfertilizer slides, showing the same in operative position with relationto said slides and to the roller from which power is supplied.

Fig. 11 is a detail side elevation of one of the slide-actuatingmechanisms. Fig. 12 isa detail perspective view of the same. Fig. l3isan inverted plan view, partly in section, of the pulverizing-disks andtheir supporting devices. Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of acovering-plow adapted to be used in lieu ofthe runners or disks. Fig. 15is a detail sectional view of the furrow-maker.

The frame 1 of my improved combined check-row corn-planter andfertilizer-distributer comprises a platform 2, having aforward-extending beam 3 and a pair of rear.- ward-extending bars 4,which have their rear ends connected together by a cross-bar 5. A roller6, which Supports the rear end of the frame and from which power isderived for the slide-actuating mechanisms, has its supporting-shaft 7journaled in bearings with which the bars 4 are provided, as at 8,(illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3,) and said roller is provided onits sides or ends with circular disks 9, each of which has a series ofadj usting and spacing openings 10, adapted for the attachment oftappet-rollers 11. The said roller is further provided with a centralperipheral concaved groove 12, which travels in rear of'the plantingmechanism in the furrow and serves to lightly press the soil on theseeds and to form a slight ridge over the planted seed.

A bottomless seed-hopper 13, which is preferably of the form here shown,but which may be of any other suitable form, has its lower side locatedin an opening with which the platform 2 is provided, near the rear endof said platform. The said opening is covered on the under side thereofby'means of a bottom plate 14, which is bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to the under side of the platform, bolts 15 being here indicatedto thus secure the said bottom plate in position. Said bottom plate atits rear side abuts against the upper end of the seed-tube 16, whichdepends vertically from the platform and is located just in rear of thehopper 13. A seedslide 17 is arranged centrally on the plate 14 andpasses through the rear side of the hopper, as shown, and on the sidesotsaid-seedslide are located plates 18, which form a false bottom in thehopper, and are provided on their opposing edges with rabbets 19, whichform guides for the sides of the seed-slide. Said slide is provided witha seed-opening 20, of suitable size, adapted to receive any desiredpredetermined number of grains of corn. When the said seed-slide isreciprocated by mechanism hereinafter described, the said openingalternately registers with the seedtu'be 16 and the interior of thehopper, as will; be readily understood, and t-hereby'serves to 1 conveyseedfroin the hopper t0 the said seedtube on each rearward movement ofthe said seed-slide. The latter is provided on its under side, near itsrear end, with a yoke 21, of suitable form, which is engaged by a link-,Said link-lever is mounted'an'd fulcrumed in a suitable support 23,andxthef lever 22.

outer end thereof is forked or bifurcated, as l at 24. A plate istransversely disposed in the seed-h'oppenat the front side thereof, andbears upon the upper sides of the plates 18 and spans the space betweensaid plates: over the seed-slide, and said plate 25 is provided on itsrear side with a 'downturned flange 26, which bears upon saidseed-slide, as shown;

the upper side of the seed-slide.

passes through a guide 31.

screw or pin 32 working in the slot 29.

the upper side of the seed-slide. however, that the cut-off plate shouldfailto remove superfluous grains of corn from the; cup or opening 20 asthe same moves under the cut-off plate on the rear stroke of theseed-slide said cu t-off plate is adap'tedto yield in a verticaldirection and allow said opening or cup to pass under the same withoutinjury either to the seed-slide, cut-0E plate, or actuating mechanism andwithout exerting shearing or cuttingaction on any of the grains of'corn.

At a suitable distance in advance of the seed-hopper is a fertilizer-hopper 34, the same being located immediately in rear of anopening 35 inthe platform. A fertilizer-slide 36 is guided 'in asuita'blelongitudinal groove in the bottom of the hopper, the front end ofsaid fertilizer-slide extending through the 35 in its lower side at asuitable distance from its front end. The interior portion of thesaidtrough of the slide in rear of the said opening 38 is filled by asuitable block 39, which is secured between the side walls of the saidtrough, and in the front portion of the said trough, between thevertical side walls thereof, is disposed an adjusting-block 40. Aset-screw 41 travels in a longitudinal slot in one of the side walls ofsaid trough and engages said adjusting-block 40, and hence saidadjusting-block is adapted to be moved endwise in the said trough, so asto opener uncover the opening 38 to its full extent or to partly coverthe said opening 38 to any desired extent,.and thereby vary the size ofthe fertilizer-opening 43, formed between the proximate ends of theblocks 39 40. By thus varying'the size of the said opening 43 by settingsaid block at any desired adjustment the slide is adapted fordistributing any desired predetermined quantity of fertiliz'erat eachoperation. It will be understood that when the fertilizer-slide movesforward the opening 43 therein registers with the opening 35, and hencethe fertilizer contained 'insaid opening 43 will he dropped through theopening 35 into the furrow. A link-lever 44 is pivoted at its outer endon a bracket 45, which .projects'from one side of't'h-eforward-extendingbeam 3, and'the inner 'blocks 51 are disposed invertical recesses in the sides "of the beam 3, said blocks being abreastof the standard'48, and said blocks are provided with vertical opengrooves in their outer sid es,-which form the seats for the upperextend-ed shanks or stocks 53 of covering-wings or runners 54,- whichare adapted tosweep'the loose earth on the sides of the f-u rrowi'n tothe same as the'machiue advances,

and thereby cover the fertilizer dropped in the furrow.

The'corn-furrowing shoe or runner 55 has "a" verticaltubular stock 56'at its rear end,

which telescopes on the seed-tube 16, and said shoe or runner isprovided at its front end with a'vertical arm 57, which passes throughan opening 58 in the platform and is adapted to play vertically therein,so as to set the shoe orrunner to any desired vertical adjustment,

and hence regulate the depth of the furrow made thereby and the depth atwhich the seed is deposited therein. Said arm 57 has a series ofadjusting-openings 59, one of which is engaged by a set-bolt 60, whichserves to secure said runner or shoe when adjusted.

Metallic blocks 61, which are similar in construction to the blocks 51,are secured in the sides of the platform substantially abreast of thefront end of the shoe or runner 55, and in the said blocks are securedor adapted to be secured covering-wings 62, which are identical inconstruction with the covering-wings hereinbefore described and whichserve tooover the seeds in the furrow, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 14 I have illustrated a form of covering-shovel 63 which may besubstituted for the covering-wings 54 62, if preferred, and which areespecially adapted for operation in land which has not been thoroughlyprepared by furrowing and harrowing prior to the planting thereof.

In Fig. 13 I illustrate suitable coveringdisks and supportingconnections therefor, which disks may be employed in lieu of thecovering-wings or covering shovels or plows hereinbefore described. Thesaid coveringdisks 64 are of the usual concavo-convex form and aremounted on novel supports 65, which form a part of my invention. Saidsupports 65 comprise metallic arms 66, preferably bent in the form hereshown, but which may be of other suitable form, and are provided attheir front ends with pivotal openings 67 and at their rear ends withadjusting-slots 625, which are concentric with said openings 67. Bolts67* 68' in said openings and slots, respectively, serve to secure thesaid supports to the under side of the beam or platform, as the case maybe, and the rear ends of the said supports are laterally adjustable, sothat the said covering-disks may be set at any required angle withrelation to each other, as will be readily understood. Scrapers 69 arebolted to the supports 65 and are disposed within the concaved or innersides of the disks 64 and serve to keep the same clear of adheringearth.

I will now describe my novel form of mechanism for actuating thefertilizer and seed slides. On one side of the platform, as here shownthe right-hand side thereof, is a supporting-plate 70, which is pivotedat its front end, as at 71. Said plate is preferably of the form hereshown, but may be of any other suitable form, and is provided atits rearend with a shifting-lever 72, by means of which said plate may be movedon its pivot. Said shifting-lever engages a detent-bracket 73, whichsupports the rear end thereof and incidentallysupports the rear end ofplate 70, said detent-bracket being provided with notches 74 75, adaptedto receive said lever. On the plate and supported in guides 76 is areciprocatory push-rod 77, which has a vertical arm 78 at its rear endand is provided at its front end with a depending stud 79, which isengaged by the fork or bifurcation 24: at the outer end of the link-1ever 22. A crank-lever 80 is fulcru med to a bracket which projects fromthe lower side of the plate 70, and said crank-lever has alaterally-projecting stud 81 on one side of its upper arm 82, the lowerarm of said crank-lever extending into the path of the tappets on theright-hand side of the roller 6 and adapted to be engaged successivelyby said tappets as said roller rotates. The vertical arm 78 of thepush-rod 77 is also disposed in the path of the said tappets of the saidroller, and said arm is engaged on its front side by the stud 81,whereby the said crank-lever is caused to engage and move said push-rodrearward when said crank arm or lever is engaged by the tappets.

It will be understood from the foregoing and by reference to thedrawings that as the roller rotates one of its tappets will first engagethe arm 78 of push-rod 77, thereby moving said push-rod forward andcommunicating retrograde movement to the seed-slide 17 through the lever22. This movement of the push-rod imparts a partial rotation to thecrank-lever 80, which is adapted to rock on its pivot, thereby causingthe lower rearwardextending arm of said rocking crank-lever to bedisposed in the path of the tappet, and as the latter clears thepush-rod it immediately thereafter engages the rocking crankdever andcauses the latter to return the push-rod to its initial position, henceimparting reciprocatory motion to the seed-slide, the pushrod 77 beingpositively impelled forward on one stroke thereof directly by the tappetand its retrograde impulse being received from the tappet through therock1ever. When the lever 72 of plate 70 is in engagement with the notch74 of bracket-arm 73, the said plate 70 is locked in the position shownin Figs. 2 and 10, so that the push-rod and rocking 1ever are in thepath of the roller-tappets, and the seed-planting mechanism is operatedas hereinbefore described; but when the said lever 72 is engaged by thenotch the plate 70 is swung outward, so as to carry the rear ends of thep ush-rod 77 and rocking crank-lever laterally to one side of and out ofengagement with said roller-tappets, and hence the seed-plan tingmechanism is thrown out of gear andceases to operate. The actuatingmechanism for the fertilizerslide is identical in construction andoperation with the seed-slideactuating mechanism hereinbefore describedand is located on the left-hand side of the platform and adapted to beoperated by the tappets on the corresponding side of the roller. Theplate '70, lever 72, push-rod 77, and rocking crank-lever 8O areidentical in construction and mode of operation with those of thecorresponding parts 70, 72, 77, and 80. Said operating mechanism for thefertilizerslide is connected to the lever 44: by a rod 83, having alaterally-extended forked arm 84 at its rear end adapted for engagementby the stud which depends from the front end of the push-rod 77, andhence said fertilizerslide may be thrown into or out of operation at thewill of the operator. The fertilizerslide is provided on its upper sidewith a stirring-stud 85, which travels in an open slot 86 with whichplate 37 is provided and serves to stir the fertilizer in thefertilizer-hopper and prevents the fertilizer from becoming packedtherein, as will be readily understood.

The tappet-rollers on the opposite sides of the roller 6 are so locatedthat as the machine advances the fertilizer is dropped at the samepoints with the corn, and by varying the number of tappet-rollersemployed and appropriately spacing them apart the seed and fertilizerslides may be operated so as to cause the corn to be planted andfertilized either in drills or in hills, as may be required. Anindicator 87 on the frame at a point abreast of the seed spout or tubeindicates, when the same is in line with a mark in the adjacent plantedfurrow made by a marker 88 with which the roller is provided, thelocation of the hill, said marker 88 marking the ground on one side ofeach hill as the machine advances, and hence the hills of corn as thesame are planted may be readily checked and adapted to be cultivatedboth in line with the rows formed by the machine and at right anglesthereto, as will be readily understood.

In order to gage the furrows planted with corn and enable the same to berun in parallel lines and at regular distance apart, I provide myplanter with a furrow-marker which comprises a bar 89, the inner end ofwhich is pivotally connected on the rear side of the cross-bar 5, at thecenter thereof, as at 90, and a runner 91, the latter having markingedges 92 on both sides and a central opening 93, through which the bar89 extends, said runner being adapted to be laterally adjusted on saidbar and provided with a set bolt or screw 94, whereby it may be securedon the bar 89 at any desired adjustment. A trail rope or cord 95connects the front end of the runner 91 with a hook 96 on a clevis 97 atthe front end of the beam 3. The said marker may be disposed and causedto operate on either side of the planter as may be required by turningthe bar 89 on its pivot 90.

In the practical equipment of my improved corn-planter I provide thesame with a number, usually four, of interchangeable seedslides havingfrom one to four openings, respectively, and the said openings beingeach adapted to contain a single grain of corn. Hence by using aseed-slide having an appropriate number of openings the cornplanter maybe readily adapted for planting any desired number of grains of corn ineach hill. In the seed-slide herein shown only one opening is indicated,and it has not been deemed necessary to show slides having more than oneopening, as the description herein is thought to be clear as tothis-feature of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with aseed or fertilizer slide, of a reciprocatory element connected thereto,to move said slide in one direction and having a tappet-arm, aretracting rocking element connected to said reciprocatory element andhaving a tappet-arm, and a revoluble element having tappets (one ormore) in the path of which the said tappets of said reciprocatory androcking elements are disposed and by which said tappets of saidreciprocatory elements are successively engaged.

2. In combination with a revoluble element having tappets, areciprocatory push-bar connected to a seed or fertilizer slide andhaving an arm disposed in the path of a tappet and moved thereby in onedirection, and a retracting bell-crank lever connected to said push-barand having an arm disposed in the path of the tappet and operatedthereby after the tappet has cleared the arm of the pushbar,substantially as described.

3. In combination with a revoluble element having tappets, areciprocatory element connected to a seed or fertilizer slide, adaptedto be disposed in the path of a tappet and moved thereby in onedirection, and a rocking element connected to said reciprocatory elementand having an arm disposed in the path of the tappet and operatedthereby after the tappet has cleared the reciprocatory element, and amovable support for said reciprocatory and rocking elements whereby thesame may be moved out of the path of the tappets, substantially asdescribed.

4. In combination with a revoluble element having tappets, areciprocatory element connected to a seed or fertilizer slide, adaptedto be disposed in the path of a tappet and moved thereby in onedirection, and a rocking element connected to said reciprocatory elementand having an arm disposed in the path of the tappet and operatedthereby after the tappet has cleared the reciprocatory element, apivoted support for said reciprocatory and rocking elements and meansfor moving and locking said pivoted support whereby said reciprocatoryand rocking elements may be secured in or out of the path of thetappets, substantially as described.

5. In a planter, the combination of a hopper having atransversely-disposed and slotted plate in the bottom thereof, a slidecomprising a trough having a discharge-opening in its lower side, saidtrough being guided in the bottom of the hopper, under the slottedplate, and having blocks on opposite sides of the discharge-opening, oneof said blocks be ing adjustable, and the other having a stirring-pinoperating in the slot in the plate, and means to reciprocate said slide,substantially as described.

6. In a planter, the combination with a seed-tube, of avertically-adjustable furrowlOO IIO

LII

opening shoe or runner having a tubular standard telescoping on saidseed-tube, said shoe or runner provided at its front end with a verticalarm extending through a vertical guide-opening in the frame of theplanter and means for securing said arm to the frame of the planter atany adjustment of the shoe, substantiaily as described.

7 The combination with a seed or fertilizer slide, of a reciprocatorypush-rod having a tappet at one end, a link-lever connecting saidpush-rod to said slide, a retracting bellcrank lever disposed below theouter end of said push-rod and engaging and adapted to move saidpush-rod in one direction, and a revoluble element having tappets (oneor more) to engage said tappet of said push-rod and move the samein onedirection and thereafter engage said hell-crank lever and cause thelatter to return the push-rod to its initial position, substantially asdescribed.

8. Acovering device for planters, comprising a pair of supporting-barsadapted to be pivoted at their front ends and having adjusting-slots attheir rear ends concentric with said pivots, covering-disks mounted onthe outer sides of said supporting-bars, and the scrapers on saidsupporting-bars and engaging the inner sides of the covering-disks.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT HENRY TRUITT.

Witnesses:

RoBT. L. SHEMWELL, L. E. WALLACE.

